COTTERELL, Ernest
| Service Number: | 126 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Birmingham, England, 29 March 1888 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Albert Road School, Aston, Birmingham |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Suicide (GSW head), Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 5 October 1914, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, New South Wales Waverley General Cemetery, Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Springvale Necropolis, Springvale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 126, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1914: | Involvement Sapper, 126, 1st Field Company Engineers, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 126 awm_unit: 1st Field Company, Australian Engineers awm_rank: Sapper awm_died_date: 1914-10-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"A SOLDIER'S SUICIDE.
An inquiry was held at the City Coroners Court yesterday concerning the death of Sapper Ernest Cotterell (26), an Englishman, and a member of the engineers of the expeditionary force. He was found dead in his tent in the military enclosure, off Park Road, on October 5. The top of his head had been blown off. Dr. Smith said that apparently Cotterell had been in a sitting position when he committed the act, and placed the muzzle of a rifle in his mouth. His right boot was off, and the supposition was that he pressed the trigger with his toe. Frederick James Cotterell, also a member of the expeditionary force, stated that the deceased, who was his brother, had said that he should have been in the reserve, and not in the expeditionary force. A letter found in the pockets of the deceased by Constable Williams, dated September 21, but unaddressed, confirmed this statement. A finding of suicide was returned." - from the Sydney Daily Telegraph 14 Oct 1914 (nla.gov.au)
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